Andorra 'descongela' i surt al carrer a defensar l'habitatge

The article, published by Altaveu and authored by A. M., T. S. and Anna Mencos, reports on a historic housing protest in Andorra la Vella. Around 1 500 residents took to the streets on a Saturday to oppose the “law of rent thawing”, which they label the “Law of Scheduled Expulsion”. The mobilisation was organised by the Sindicat d’Habitatge and is presented as a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over housing affordability and tenant rights in Andorra.

The protest targets a proposed amendment that would loosen rent controls, potentially increasing housing costs for vulnerable households. Protesters demand the introduction of a single reference price index for housing to prevent a dual market, and they insist that no eviction should occur without a dignified alternative dwelling. The Sindicat argues that the current legislation threatens the right to secure, affordable housing, a core social right in the country.

The march began before 7 p.m. at the KM0 roundabout, with police closing the street and a hundred people initially occupying the route. Numbers grew “in crescendo”, reaching about 400 at the Unió street, surpassing a thousand at Prat de la Creu, and peaking at roughly 1 500 when the crowd converged on the Government roundabout. Throughout the route, demonstrators displayed slogans such as “Espot dimissió”, “Andorra és casa meva i no vull marxar”, and “Especuladors fora d’Andorra”, indicating broad discontent with speculative practices.

Rebeca Bonache, the Sindicat’s spokesperson, highlighted the urgency of the issue, warning that by 2027 social rupture could become “very fierce” if pressure does not increase. She read a manifesto urging the government to regulate the housing market and to guarantee alternative accommodation for evicted families. Several politicians attended, including Cerni Escalé and Núria Segués of the Concòrdia group, and Pere Baró of the Social Democratic Party, who acknowledged the protest as a “reflection of society” and stressed the need for legislative amendments.

Key demands include:

• Creation of a single reference price index for housing.
• Prohibition of evictions without a dignified alternative.
• Regulation of the housing market to prevent speculative rent hikes. The Sindicat also warned of escalating actions, including potential border blockades, though it noted logistical challenges to such measures.

The Sindicat plans meetings with majority parliamentary groups in the coming week, hoping the visible mobilisation will prompt a reconsideration of the law. They seek to secure a revised text during the parliamentary commission stage, emphasizing that there remains “time to change” the legislation. While acknowledging the difficulty of achieving consensus, the protestors remain committed to sustained pressure until substantive reform is achieved.